Archive for the ‘Bentley Bentayga’ Category

The 2019 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid is the electrified version of the company’s first SUV. It’s also Bentley’s first hybrid ever, as well as the world’s first luxury SUV with an electric motor. The Bentayga Hybrid joins the original 2017 Bentayga with the W-12 engine that Bentley unveiled in 2015, as well as the V-8 and diesel variants that the British firm launched since 2017.

The Bentayga Hybrid is virtually identical to the regular SUV inside and out. The exterior features an additional “fuel” cap for the plug-in socket, while the interior includes new tech and a revised infotainment system for hybrid duty. Things are notably different under the skin though, where the familiar W-12 and V-8 engines were replaced with a V-6 and an electric motor. The layout is similar to that in the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid. Let’s find out more about this electrified SUV in the review below.

The Bentley Bentayga V8 Design Series is a special-edition version of the luxury SUV. As an appearance package, Design Series combined new features designed by the Mulliner division with a range of existing options. Bentley says it’s “a contemporary styled and visually dynamic version of the world’s most luxurious SUV,” although the Design Series isn’t a major departure from the standard Bentayga.

Although the British SUV is available with two gasoline engine, a diesel, and a hybrid, the Design Series is restricted to just one drivetrain. As the name suggests, it only comes with the 4.0-liter V-8, which is the entry-level model in terms of pricing. There’s no word as to how many will be built, but it probably won’t be around for too long.

The Bentley Bentayga Speed is the range-topping version of the company’s first-ever SUV. Launched in early 2019, it joins the standard gas model, the diesel, and the hybrid versions of the British hauler. The Speed badge is borrowed from the Continental GT, which Bentley introduced for the first time back in 2008. Just like the Continental GT Speed, the Bentayga Speed is a slightly beefed-up version of the regular model. It’s also equipped with unique features, while some of the Bentayga’s usual options are offered as standard. However, the Speed is only marginally more powerful than the Bentayga, which prevents Bentley from having a full-fledged competitor for the Lamborghini Urus. Still, it’s the company’s most powerful SUV yet, and it’s also one of only two production SUVs that can hit 190 mph.

Update 3/12/2019:We’ve updated this review with fresh images of the 2019 Bentley Bentayga Speed that we took during the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Check them out in the gallery at the bottom of the page!

Bentley’s first SUV just became more powerful and faster although you won’t notice it that quickly when you look at the exterior of the new Bentayga Speed. Underneath the pretty bronze exterior, there’s a 626 horsepower 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged, W-12 behemoth that helps the not-so-pretty beast reach 190 mph and a bit. That bit is one 1 km/h more than the Urus and this allows Bentley to take home all the bragging rights for now.

We are well accustomed to automakers goosing it out over who makes the fastest supercar but we’re now seeing this trend awkwardly trickle down to big SUVs. Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo was, arguably, the first modern SUV that packed a decent punch but many have followed in its wake with Lamborghini dropping the first Super-SUV ever (as they call it) with the Urus. Let’s see if Lamborghini responds with a peppered-up Urus or not, considering both companies are under the VAG umbrella.

The Bentley Bentayga Speed is the range-topping version of the company’s first-ever SUV. Launched in early 2019, it joins the standard gas model, the diesel, and the hybrid versions of the British hauler. The Speed badge is borrowed from the Continental GT, which Bentley introduced for the first time back in 2008. Just like the Continental GT Speed, the Bentayga Speed is a slightly beefed-up version of the regular model. It’s also equipped with unique features, while some of the Bentayga’s usual options are offered as standard. However, the Speed is only marginally more powerful than the Bentayga, which prevents Bentley from having a full-fledged competitor for the Lamborghini Urus. Still, it’s the company’s most powerful SUV yet, and it’s also one of only two production SUVs that can hit 190 mph.

It’s been more than three years since Bentley introduced the Bentayga, its first-ever SUV, and the highly anticipated Speed model is here to boost the nameplate’s performance pedigree even further. The first Bentley SUV to carry the badge taken from the Continental, the Bentayga Speed is the quickest, fastest, and more capable British hauler yet.

Volkswagen has done this before as well, and it is doing it again. This time, the automaker is pitting two of its most esteemed marques against each other. Bentley is working on the Bentayga Speed, and it might be just as powerful as the Lamborghini Urus. Won’t this hurt Lamborghini’s sales? Maybe, but if you look at it from the bigger picture, it is the VW group at the end of the day that’s benefiting.

The term “super SUV” is relatively new in the automotive lexicon, but its use has exploded in popularity with the rush of high-end models that have filled its ranks. From the Bentley Bentayga to the Lamborghini Urus, we’ve seen no shortage of super SUVs hit the market in recent years. Super SUVs are the most extravagant breed of SUVs you can find on the market. They have interiors that can rival those that are found in luxury cars, and they have performance capabilities that border on supercar levels. They also have premium price tags, something that we should expect given their status. This is our list of the best super SUVs in the market today, and, who knows, you might end up in the market for one sooner than you think.

Just a few weeks after the Bentley announced that it was working on a Bentayga Speed, the Bentayga is in the news again; this time for smashing the record for a production SUV at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Bentley has been on fire lately with the Bentayga, and it looks like the Bentayga is starting to show who the real monster is!

The success of the Bentayga SUV has empowered Bentley to add a new member to its SUV lineup. The new model is tentatively called “Bentayga Sport,” and rumors have surfaced that it’s going to take the form of a coupe-SUV to complement the more traditional SUV-looking Bentyaga. If the British automaker’s plans go as scheduled, the Bentayga Sport could be break cover as early as 2019.

Every premium automaker has a luxury SUV in its line-up today. There’s the Rolls Royce Cullinan, the Lamborghini Urus, the Porsche Cayenne, and the Bentley Bentayga, to name a few. This segment is in great demand, and every manufacturer is tirelessly trying to outdo each other by introducing various engine options and what not. This time, Bentley is developing a faster Bentayga, called the Bentayga Speed. This SUV will not just be faster on the road; it’s also set to feature some big design changes.

Premium SUVs have been around for quite some time now. Many claim that the first luxury hauler arrived in 1984 as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, but the modern era began in 1999 when BMW introduced the X5. In 2016, Bentley reshaped the segment with the Bentayga, the first full-blown luxury SUV that gathered fine upholstery, state-of-the-art tech, fancy features, and high-performance under one roof. At the time of its launch, it was the quickest, fastest, and the most expensive SUV. Two years have passed and Rolls-Royce delivered its first people hauler, just like it promised a few years back. It’s called the Cullinan, and although it’s not faster than the Bentayga, it’s definitely the more expensive choice.

While the premium segment is packed with SUVs from European, American, and Japanese automakers, the range-topping luxury market is still very small. With no other products around, Bentley and Rolls-Royce are the only firms fighting for supremacy here. The Cullinan and the Bentayga will go against each other for the richest, most pretentious customers out there for years to come. Who will win? It’s hard to predict at this point, but we set up a thorough comparison for the most luxurious SUVs ever built as of 2018.

The days of automakers touting their purist roots are now over. The was a time when companies like Bentley and Lamborghini laughed at the thought of launching their own SUVs. Now, the Bentayga and Urus are out on the market. The shift in ideologies has given rise to models that we never thought would exist. Using that newfound rationale, what do you think is the likelihood that Bentley greenlights its own pickup?

“Can you imagine a Bentley Bentayga pickup that’s dripping in luxury in an off-road setting, getting down and dirty with little regard for vanity the way pickups are supposed to do?”

There are bridges that certain companies should not, under any circumstances, cross. For Bentley, this is one of them. I can’t even begin to imagine how Bentley can package a pickup and still give it the luxury juices that the company is known for. It’s one thing to do it on an SUV because the market has embraced it. But a pickup? That’s going too far, right?

I will cop to one thing: the rendering of the Bentayga pickup looks spot on. If I had to picture what a Bentayga pickup would look like, it would be like this. But, even if the allure is there, even if the intrigue and the interest are there, I cannot find any justification for Bentley to make this move unless somebody within the company loses his mind.

Can you imagine a Bentley Bentayga pickup that’s dripping in luxury in an off-road setting, getting down and dirty with little regard for vanity the way pickups are supposed to do? It’s a thought that has entered my mind for a fleeting second. Then it disappears just as quickly because it’s absolutely bat-dung crazy.
Who knows, somebody from the aftermarket world might think it’s a good idea and will decide to chop up a Bentayga in an effort to reinvent it as a pickup. I’d be onboard with that because the tuning world builds these kinds of crazy mashups all the time.

But Bentley? Forget about it. I’d bet my dilapidated Honda Civic that it never happens.

Lovers of the opulent, over-the-top Bentley Bentayga have reason to get excited, as the British automaker just announced it would expand the nameplate’s offerings with a new V-8 model. While slightly down on power compared to the previous 12-cylinder variant, the new Bentayga V8 still comes brimming with luxury, technology, and impressive speed.

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“The V-8 also manages up to 25 combined mpg thanks to start/stop tech and cylinder deactivation that turns the 'eight into a four-banger, a vast improvement compared to the W-12 model's 15 mpg combined.”

When Bentley initially announced its intentions to create its very first SUV, it hoped to do it right by offering customers the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive SUV in the world. The end result is a luxury box on wheels with a twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12 engine, 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, an eight-speed automatic transmission, AWD, advanced air suspension, a 0-to-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of 187 mph. Pricing starts at over $200,000.

All told, Bentley frames the Bentayga as “the ultimate Grand Touring experience unrestricted by landscape or conditions.” Impressive stuff, no doubt about it, but obviously any time you create the “ultimate” of anything, you leave the door open for the creation of something, well, slightly less ultimate.

Enter the V-8 model, which arrives with a VW-sourced 4.0-liter V-8 powerplant, once again packing in the air thanks to two turbochargers. Standout features include 32 valves and a hot-vee placement for the twin-scroll turbos. Peak output is rated at 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque, while the top speed clocks in at 180 mph and the 0-to-60 mph sprint is achieved in 4.4 seconds. The V-8 also manages up to 25 combined mpg thanks to start/stop tech and cylinder deactivation that turns the ’eight into a four-banger, a vast improvement compared to the W-12 model’s 15 mpg combined.

“Peak output is rated at 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque, while the top speed clocks in at 180 mph and the 0-to-60 mph sprint is achieved in 4.4 seconds.”

Bentley claims that this new V-8 model assumes the nameplate’s “most sporting guise to date,” but considering the numbers in play here, we can’t help but question that statement. After all, the V-8 isn’t as powerful and the model isn’t nearly as fast as the ’12, while the rest of the equipment looks more or less unchanged.

But maybe Bentley is referring to the brakes, as the V-8 Bentayga also comes with the option for carbon ceramic stoppers. This motorsport-inspired system is a first for the model, and Bentley brags its the largest front brake system available on any production car on the market, measuring in with
enormous 440 mm (17.3-inch) diameter discs and 10-pot calipers. Meanwhile, the rear gets 370 mm (14.6-inch) diameter brake discs.

Keeping it shiny side up is a multi-mode suspension system, with Bentley Drive Dynamics offering a variety of settings that adjust the SUV’s attitude to better suit either comfort or sportiness. The V-8 Bentayga also continues with standard off-roading settings for the Drive Dynamics system, and includes a variety of variable for the ride height.

“Bentley brags the optional carbon brakes are the largest front brakea available on any production car on the market, measuring in with enormous 440 mm (17.3-inch) diameter discs and 10-pot calipers.”

In terms of aesthetics, the V-8 Bentayga offers buyers 11 individual wheel design options, including a new 22-inch five-spoke design painted in polished black. Overall though, the V-8 model looks quite similar to the older W-12 model, with only minor visual cues added as indication of the new engine under the hood. That includes a black chrome grille up front and twin-quad exhaust tips in back.

Inside, the V-8 Bentayga continues the theme of superlative luxury, and now gets new wood trim and hide on the steering wheel, plus a new carbon fiber panel in high-gloss finish for extra sporting cred. A high-end stereo is also on the options list, offering 1,950 watts of power routed through 18 speakers. An 8-inch touchscreen takes its place in front, and there’s a removable 10.2-inch Android tablet in back, plus onboard WiFi support. Rounding out the tech suite is a variety of driver assists, such as adaptive cruise control, traffic assist, park assist, night vision, traffic sign recognition, and the like.

“Pricing for the V-8 Bentayga has not yet been announced, but we expect it to be well below that of the W-12 model.”

Pricing for the V-8 Bentayga has not yet been announced, but we expect it to be well below that of the W-12 model.

The Merc is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 making around 415 horsepower and comes packing with some very impressive off-roading chops, and the whole package is expected to see a solid upgrade with the up-and-coming 2019 model year. Pricing starts at $123,600.

Meanwhile, the Range Rover gets 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque thanks to a blown 5.0-liter V-8, and while it’s definitely designed primary for paved-road duty, it’s got the goods for a jaunt in the rough stuff as well. Pricing starts at $104,890.

2017 has been an amazing year for the automobile. Sales have increased across the board, high-performance models are quicker and faster than ever, off-roaders are more capable than before, and a slew of new models have hit the streets. That’s what we’re looking at here: the all-new vehicles the debuted in 2017. But more specifically, we’re looking at the crossovers and SUVs that made their initial splash into the fastest-growing segment in the industry.

Before we dive in, it’s worth noting that practically dozens of SUVs and crossovers were revamped in 2017. Models like the Jeep Wrangler JL,Chevrolet Traverse,Mazda CX-3, and plenty more were made new again. But these are familiar nameplates. This go-round, we’re focusing on completely new models.

“Alfa didn’t built some clunky knock-off of a Wrangler or Defender, but rather, a smooth and powerful machine with looks that kill”

Alfa Romeo is making its comeback – both in the U.S. and around the world – an much of it hinges on the Stelvio crossover. Naturally, with crossovers being all the rage these days, Alfa couldn’t ignore the segment despite never having a historical tie with any high-riding, four-wheel-drives. Thankfully, Alfa didn’t built some clunky knock-off of a Wrangler or Defender, but rather, a smooth and powerful machine with looks that kill and an available Quadrifoglio drivetrain with its Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6, eight-speed automatic, full-time AWD, and 505 horsepower. Even in its “base” form, the Stelvio’s 2.0-liter turbo-four has enough power launch the 4,000-pound vehicle to 60 mph in roughly 5.5 seconds.

Prices start around $43,000 and crest around $48,000. The Quadrifoglio model hasn’t been prices at this time, but we’re expecting this monster to start somewhere around $75,000. And then there’s the name… Stelvio – it’s just so fun to say. Add Quadrifoglio to that, and the name alone is worth the asking price.

“The Bentley Bentayga is redefining the boundaries of high-end automakers building luxury SUVs.”

We’re having to stretch the terms of our timeline here, as the Bentayga began production in 2016, but the SUV’s importance can’t be understated. The Bentayga is Bentley’s first foray into the SUV realm. It marks a huge departure form the sedans, coupes, and convertibles the über-luxury brand is known for. Yet that luxury transcends the SUV title, making the Bentayga one of the most well-appointed three-row behemoths in the business.

It rides on the same MLB architecture underpinning the Audi Q7, but comes powered by a massive 6.0-liter W-12 making 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. As anybody could guess, an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD are standard. The outrageous powertrain is able to defy physics when hauling this 6,000-pound SUV to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds an onto the segment’s highest top speed of 187 mph.

The Bentley Bentayga is redefining the boundaries of high-end automakers building luxury SUVs. We’ve already heard of promising future rivals; Mercedes-Maybach, Roll-Royce, and Aston Martin will soon join the segment, too. Of course, it takes Wall Street money to play in this elite crew. The Bentayga starts at $235,500 and can quickly cost nearly $300,000 with a few options selected.

“The EcoSport represents a good value to folks needing basic transportation but wanting to ride in style”

As Ford considers killing off the Fusion, new entries to the crossover and SUV segments are popping up. The iconic Bronco nameplate is scheduled to return for 2020, and the ever-popular Expedition just got a refresh for 2018. But those vehicles are and will be expensive. Ford’s answer to the budget-constrained crossover lovers out there is the EcoSport – a tiny high-riding hatchback with a swinging rear tailgate and three- and four-cylinder engines. In truth, the EcoSport has been around for more than a decade in countries around the globe. It’s just now that Ford has decided to bring the EcoSport to the U.S. – from India, no less.

Still, the EcoSport represents a good value to folks needing basic transportation but wanting to ride in style. As mentioned, power comes from small engines. The base mill is a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder making 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated engine makes 167 horses and 149 pound-feet. A six-speed auto and front-wheel drive come standard, while AWD is optional with the 2.0-liter.

The EcoSport’s best selling point is its price: it starts at just $19,995 for the S trim. SE, Titanium, and SES trims progressively add more content. The SES tops the range and offers a sportier flare for $26,740. Besides the price, the EcoSport’s small footprint makes it a decent choice for inner-city living.

“The E-Pace is designed as Jaguar’s entry-level vehicle thanks to its size and a starting price around $38,600.”

The Jaguar E-Pace is like the F-Pace’s little brother whose name confuses everyone not close to the family. No, the E-Pace isn’t a hybrid electric or some fancy fuel cell. Rather E comes before F alphabetically and is therefore “smaller” than F – or so Jaguar’s marketing and product planning teams thought. The E-Pace rides on Jaguar Land Rover’s D8 platform, which also underpins the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport. It’s designed as Jaguar’s entry-level vehicle thanks to its size and a starting price around $38,600.

The E-Pace uses the same 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder in all trim levels, though Jaguar bumps the power to 296 horses and 295 pound-feet of torque if you pay the extra $8,600 for the R-Dynamic trim. A nine-speed automatic and front-wheel drive are standard. AWD comes standard with the R-Dynamic trim.

“While the Urus might not be Rambo’s “First Blood,” it’s undeniably a better performaner while adimately following Lambo’s modern design flare and brand ethos.”

Who would have ever guessed Lamborghini would ever build an SUV? Well, it’s happened – again. It’s easy to forget the LM002 Lambo built as a military vehicle but soon became a civilian model best known by its nickname, the Rambo Lambo. So, while the Urus might not be Rambo’s “First Blood,” it’s undeniably a better performaner while adimately following Lambo’s modern design flare and brand ethos.

Rambo’s new Lambo is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 packed behind its headlights that makes an impressive 641 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. An intelligent AWD system is designed to work in both off-road and high-performance situations, while its massive 285-series front and 325-series rear tires fight for grip. The sprint to 60 mph takes only 3.5 seconds and will hit 190 mph.

The world didn’t need a Lamborghini SUV, but we’d argue we’re better off for it. We all know the Urus will quickly become Lambo’s best seller, which will generate profits for even more ludicrous exotics and hypercars. The Urus will start around $200,000, which is a good discount over is corporate cousin, the Bentley Bentayga. Yep; the two share the same MLB underpinnings, though the similarities stop quickly after that.

The new Range Rover Velar is one sultry machine. Though it looks much larger, the mid-size crossover actually slots between the smaller Range Rover Evoque and larger Range Rover Sport. The Velar shares its architecture with the Jaguar F-Pace, but separates itself with sleeker looks, impressive off-road chops, and that Range Rover brand cache.

The Velar impresses with a swanky, screen-filled interior with multi-use knobs that control more than one thing, but in an intuitive way. It offers seating for five in two rows of seating and three engine options to choose from. The standard is a 2.0-liter turbo-four running on gas. A second 2.0-liter turbo runs on diesel. Those fond of horsepower will enjoy the 380-horse 3.0-liter supercharged V-6. All engines are paired with the ever-present eight-speed automatic. Naturally, Land Rover’s full-time 4WD comes standard, too.

Pricing for this classy crossover begins just shy of $50,000. Those wanting the turbodiesel will have to upgrade to the mid-grade S trim and pay $56,000. The luxury-minded will find the SE model more befitting. That model starts at $67,400.

“The Atlas’ square jaw and slab slides do their best John Wayne impression while a well designed and plushy interior offer Martha Stewart levels of hominess and comfort”

Volkswagen is still wiping soot off its face from the #dieselgate debacle, but the Atlas should be the soapy shower the automaker needs. This three-row crossover was designed specifically for Americans and is built by Americans in VW’s Chattanooga, Tennessee plant. The Atlas’ square jaw and slab slides do their best John Wayne impression while a well designed and plushy interior offer Martha Stewart levels of hominess and comfort. Volkswagen offers several trim levels to choose from, meaning there’s an Atlas for most every middle-class family. Prices start at $30,500 and range up to $49,000.

VW also gives families the choice between a 2.0-liter turbo-four or a 3.6-liter V-6, along with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Options include things like tri-zone climate controls, adaptive cruise control, a panoramic moonroof, and navigation.

“The XC40 retains that modern Volvo design flare, but compresses everything into a neat little package”

The XC40 is Volvo’s answer to youthful yet sophisticated families and empty nesters wanting to be youthful yet sophisticated. This compact crossover slots under the XC60 and way below in the wonderful XC90 in terms of size and price. The XC40 retains that modern Volvo design flare, but compresses everything into a neat little package. There is room for five inside, but four will be more comfortable. There’s cargo space with the rear seat folded down and the dash has plenty of impressive technology.

A single 2.0-liter turbo-four is offered, but it comes in two output levels: 184 horsepower in the T4 model and 248 horsepower with the T5. The difference is a larger turbo on the T5. The T5 also comes standard with AWD, whereas the T4 only comes in FWD.

The XC40 in Momentum trim starts at $35,200 and the R-Design trim starts at $37,700. Volvo is also offering its new Car By Volvo ownership option, where customers can pay a flat rate to basically rent the vehicle. Things like maintenance, insurance, roadside assistance, and other hassles are all included. That’s pretty convenient for those youthful yet sophisticated folks, regardless of their age.

The rivalry between Rolls-Royce and Bentley is real and if anybody still doesn’t see it that way, Rolls CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes’ recent comments about the Bentley Bentayga has made it abundantly clear that there’s still no love lost between the two former stablemates. Speaking with Auto News Europe about the upcoming launch of the Rolls-Royce CullinanSUV, or “all-terrain, high-sided vehicle” as Rolls would like everyone to call it, Mueller-Oetvoes emphasized that the Cullinan will not use “mass-manufactured body shell,” unlike a certain model that he essentially described as a “camouflaged Audi Q7.”

You don’t need to be an expert in the acrimonious history between the two brands to know that Mueller-Oetvoes is referring to the Bentayga, which uses the same MLB Evo architecture that can be found underpinning the aforementioned Q7, as well as the Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus. Apparently, Mueller-Oetvoes believes that the approach of platform sharing limits what can be done on the design end of the SUV, which in turn “undermines exclusivity.” For its part, the Cullinan won’t have that problem because it will be riding on the luxury brand’s new “Architecture of Luxury,” a scalable, aluminum space frame platform that was designed specifically to accommodate Rolls-Royce models. The all-new Phantom is the first model to make use of the architecture though it also won’t be the last since the Cullinan, as well as next-gen models of the Ghost,Dawn, and Wraith, will all make use of it at some point.

Just when it started to feel like we’d never run out of limited edition and one-off Bentley models, no less than the company’s own design chief Stefan Sielaff has come out saying that we should prepare ourselves for such a future. Apparently, “exploring more one-off, bespoke vehicles” is one of Sielaff’s primary goals now that he’s been named the man in charge of Bentley’s Mulliner division. In his own words, Sielaff said that he wants to “explore” more of these models, where the “only limitation is the imagination of the customer.”

Those who love them some limited-edition and one-off Bentleys should be thrilled about this declaration, in part because of how Mulliner has legitimately positioned itself as one of the best personalization divisions of any automaker in the business today. Recent releases like its collaboration with Bamford show what Mulliner is capable of, even though it has rarely ventured into the world of complete stand-alone one-off models the way brands like Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, and most notably, Lamborghini have in the past. But there’s still time to change that narrative and it appears that time has come for Bentley. We’ve seen what Mulliner can do by stamping its identity on existing Bentley models. Now we’re about to see what it’s made of when it’s given a blank slate and the opportunity to create something entirely unique from it.

Introduced in late 2015, the Bentayga is Bentley’s first-ever SUV. It’s also the most expensive and luxurious, factory-built SUV in the world as of 2017, as well as the quickest to 60 mph and the fastest in terms of top speed thanks to its brand-new, 600-horsepower W-12 engine. In 2016, the Bentayga also became the first Bentley to use a diesel engine, something that seemed incredible a few years back. Come 2017, and the rumors that the British firm is also working on a hybrid drivetrain for the SUV have been confirmed by a new prototype that was spotted testing in the wild.

Sporting an additional “fuel” cap, this test car was also registered with the British licensing agency as a hybrid vehicle, so there’s no doubt that Bentley is indeed stepping into the electrified territory. What’s still a mystery is the drivetrain, although I’m very positive that the electric motor is paired to a Porsche-sourced V-6 gasoline engine. There’s no word as to when it will break cover, but it’s safe to assume that Bentley’s first hybrid will show itself to the world by the end of 2017. Most likely it will happen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Continue reading to learn more about the Bentley Bentayga Plug-In Hybrid.

Introduced in late 2015, the Bentayga is Bentley’s first-ever SUV. It’s also the most expensive and luxurious, factory-built SUV in the world as of 2017, as well as the quickest to 60 mph and the fastest in terms of top speed thanks to its brand-new, 600-horsepower W-12 engine. In 2016, the Bentayga also became the first Bentley to use a diesel engine, something that seemed incredible a few years back. Come 2017, and the rumors that the British firm is also working on a hybrid drivetrain for the SUV have been confirmed by a new prototype that was spotted testing in the wild.

Sporting an additional “fuel” cap, this test car was also registered with the British licensing agency as a hybrid vehicle, so there’s no doubt that Bentley is indeed stepping into the electrified territory. What’s still a mystery is the drivetrain, although I’m very positive that the electric motor is paired to a Porsche-sourced V-6 gasoline engine. There’s no word as to when it will break cover, but it’s safe to assume that Bentley’s first hybrid will show itself to the world by the end of 2017. Most likely it will happen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Continue reading to learn more about the Bentley Bentayga Plug-In Hybrid.

While the new Bentley Bentayga SUV is not getting much love from the brand’s traditional customer base, it is doing marvelously in new money markets . That is why they go the trouble of making models like this Bentley Bentayga Falconry to cater to those markets and keep them around.

The Bentley Bentayga Falconry by Mulliner is an “accessory” according to the car maker for the ultimate falconry experience aimed at the wealthy desert Sheikhs who are world’s biggest falcon enthusiasts. The Bentayga Falconry features a bespoke installation in the rear which houses all the equipment required for an enjoyable falconry expedition. It also comes with some nice features inside that add to the luxuriousness and exclusivity of the super deluxe SUV.

The main highlights of Bentley Bentayga Falconry by Mulliner include a master flight station and a refreshment case, both trimmed in natural-cork-fabric and housed inside a movable tray that allows for easy access. Inside the master flight unit is a special Piano Black veneered drawer – with a saker falcon crest – containing bespoke storage for all the equipment required for this unique sport. Beneath this is a laser-embossed Hotspur hide stowage tray with individual compartments for a GPS bird tracking unit, binoculars and hand-crafted leather bird hoods and gauntlets. And yes, Bentley does supply those as well.

If you are not interested in falconry, this Bentayga still has some features that might take your fancy. There is Hotspur-hide-trimmed interior panels, a removable transportation perch and tether on the central armrest, and an exquisite marquetry piece on the dashboard featuring a sweeping desert scene with a soaring saker falcon made from 430 individual pieces of wood sourced from all over the world and hand-crafted over nine days. Bentley did not mention the price of this thing, but given that it will be bought by people who can spend up to a $1,000,000 on a bird, cost is not really an issue.